Self-igniting electric-arc candle.



- antenna,

I Be it known that I, JEAN I JEAN BILLI'IEJRQ, F VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY;

SELF-IGNIT ING ELECTRIC-ARC CANDLE.

Ito Drawing;

To all whom-it may concern:

ject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at 16 Pelikangasse, Vienna, 1n Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Igniting Electric-Arc Candles, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well known fact that the'ignition I of electric arc lamp candles consisting of two parallel electrodes and an intermediate layer between said electrodes odors such difficulties that notwithstanding their simplicity they have hitherto not .found a general introduction. A great number of contrivances have been devised with the-object of mechanically edecting the ignition, for instance by approaching the electrodes to each otherand again separating them, by introducing an intermediate member, and the like.

7 essential feature'of these candles (simplicity) is lost, and the intricate mechanism renders the lamp complicated, affects the arc, consumes energy, and the lik The experiments which haven-heretofore been made to obtain a re-igni ti'on of the electric arc, after it has been extinguished,

= Y I by means, of chemical changes intthe'interto mediate layer, -havenotbeen successful. For

- instance, It has been proposed (German Patent No.,8785) to fill the intermediate layer between the electrodeswith semi-conductors such as anthracite or a mixture of a powdered metal, say ()10% zinc with non-conductive substances as magnesia, magnesia cement or a mixture of metal oxids,

which'are reduced to their. respective met-a1 in the electric arc, with magnesia cement and the like. Under the action of the electric arc aconductive layer is actually formed which will bridge the gap between the electrodes (hereinafter such layer will be 1 destroy the advantages obtained.

' briefly termed the bridge) and which may effect an ignition of the electric are when the current is switched on. However, secondary efiects will appear, which entirely The arc, for instance, quickly fuses the material of the intermediate layer or bridges will be formed in the deeper strata of the intermediate layer, so that its electrolytic or metallic conductivity is so far increased that the electric current will tend to pass through the intermediate layer only.

BILLITER, a sub-' But with all such arrangements the Specification of Letters Eatent. Patentedlfielh. 2@, 1911?. Application filed January 28, 1914. SerialNo. 315,065. i

The applicant has already proposed a'universal means for obtaining conductive bridges of a small sectional area only, which will not increase in size as hereinbefore described-by choosing as. components of the bridge formin layer, igniting substances or mixtures 0 substances which pass at higher temperatures e. for example above 200, from the non-conducting or badly conductingstate through a chemical process into a ,.good conducting state by forming conducting compounds, as carbids, lower oxids or corresponding compounds.

For making the intermediate layer therefor there is used preferably a mixture of a carrying substance, the composition of which is immaterial for the purpose of the present invention, as magnesia and silicic acid, or 7 water glass (sodlum or potasslum silicate),

firebrick and silicic acid or even oxalate or carbonate in connection. with a flux'anda' binding substance; and to this mixture a-i'e added, in order to form the bridge, substances, which when heated form conductive compounds, as lower oxide or carbids by a chemical process. Preferably propose compounds of multivalent metals as titanium, cerium, thorium, zirconium, etc., for

instance titanium salt, or titanium oxid (rutile), titanic acid or the like or mixtures of metal oxids, for instance a mixture of thorium 'oxid and lanthanum oxid To enable any one skilled in the artto make a candle which will relight in the aforesaid manner I will give hereafter the proportion. of the substances used to make the bridge forming layer of a candle. I use: v

Addition ra haan urufl a20 Within these limits. the proportions must be chosen according to manner of the electric current (direct or alternate current) and according to the intensity of the current.

When using direct current and candles em ployed with an intensity of current of 8-12 amperes the best proportions are: I Fluorspar as carrying -substance 100 g.

Titanium acid anhydrid as bridge forming substance 100 g.-

Boric acid asa flux 8 g.

Binding substance 100 g. I

Graphite as addition; 30 g.

non-conducting state of oxidation.

For producing the first ignition the bridging substance above or the points of the electrodes in addition are coveredwith a thin layer containing a finely distributed metallic conducting powder, in which the are produced when the current is switched on will immediately form abridge.

Copies of this patent may be obtain far I claim: .1. A self-igniting arc lamp candle comprising juxtaposed electrodes and an intermediate layer between said electrodes consisting of 20-60% titanium oxid or its de-' scribed equivalents being the bridge-forming substance, 20-80% fluorspar or the described equivalents beingthe carryingl substance, 25-50% solution preferably ad esive solution of titanium oxalate or the described equivalents being the binding substance and 2-20% graphite or the described equivalents.

2. The herein described composition of matter for forming the intermediate layer of a self-igniting electric are light candle consisting of fiuorspar 100 g., titanium acid anhydrid 100 g., boric acid 8- g., binding substance 100 g., graphite 30 g. substantially as described.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

DR. JEAN BILLIITERJY Witnesses:

AUGUST FUGGER, ADA MARIA BERGER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot'i'atents, Washington, D. 0." 

